We want to help families adopt.

For many Canadian families, the path to adoption is paved with hope and compassion, but financial obstacles often loom large. The expenses involved in adopting a child – from agency fees to legal costs and travel – can be daunting. Families eager to welcome a child into their home may find themselves overwhelmed by these monetary demands, especially if they are unfamiliar with the adoption process.

It is not uncommon for prospective parents to feel frustrated or disheartened when they discover the true costs associated with adoption. While their hearts and homes may be open, financial constraints sometimes prevent them from moving forward. Sadly, this discouragement means that many children who need loving families remain without permanent homes.

Recognizing these challenges, Lifesong Canada has stepped forward to help alleviate the financial burden faced by adoptive families. We believe every child deserves the love of a family and want to make adoption more accessible to those who might otherwise be unable to afford it, thereby enabling more families to answer the call and welcome a child into their lives.

Criteria for Financial Assistance

As a Christian charitable organization, our goal is for children to be adopted by a traditional, 2-parent Christian family or couple who feel called by God to enlarge their family through adoption, are committed to train and educate their children in accordance with Biblical principles, and who need financial assistance in order to complete the adoption.

In allocating funds for financial assistance, the Advisory Group considers the following criteria:

1. Leading of the Holy Spirit as we pray for wisdom
2. Stability & spiritual maturity of the applicants’ marriage and family
3. The financial need of prospective adoptive parents
4. The need of the child (special needs, older child, etc.)
5. Worldview of education and parenting
6. Involvement and endorsement from the church you attend
7. Availability of funds

Process Overview

1. Start here

1. Before you proceed, please verify that your adoption agency is a registered charity. Grants can only be disbursed directly to agencies with registered charitable status, and you must have an outstanding balance with your agency at the time your grant is issued. To confirm the charitable status of your agency, you can check online or contact them directly for verification.
2. Applications can only be submitted after your homestudy is complete AND before the placement of a child in your home.
3. You may only submit one (1) Adoption Assistance Application per adoption (includes single or multiple children) to Lifesong Canada.
4. Due to the volume of applications received, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing.
5. All financial assistance applications are prayerfully reviewed and decided upon by an independent Advisory Group to ensure an objective evaluation and autonomous decision-making process. The Advisory Group does not state its reasons for denying assistance to any particular family and a denial does not constitute a judgment that the family is a “bad” family.

2. The Application

1. Download the Adoption Assistance Application (fillable PDF attachment)
2. Begin gathering all the necessary information and documentation for the application. Most of the information can be inputted and saved directly into the fillable PDF form.
3. Lifesong Canada requires three references (Pastor, employer/co-worker, relative/friend) as part of your application. A unique reference form is provided to be downloaded, completed and sent directly to Lifesong Canada by the appropriate person.
   • Pastor reference form (fillable PDF attachment)
   • Employer/Co-worker reference form (fillable PDF attachment)
   • Relative/Friend reference form (fillable PDF attachment)
4. Include a copy of your home study and your most recent tax return(s) with the application.
5. Once the Application Checklist (on the first page of the application) is completed to ensure you have included all the necessary items, you are ready to submit the finished application.
6. Send the complete application to Lifesong Canada by email (adoption@lifesongcanada.org) or by mail (Attn: Adoption Assistance Program, 867558 Township Rd. 10, Bright, ON, N0J 1B0).

3. Fundraising

1. You’ll develop a mailing list of 100 to 200 potential supporters. This group could include individuals from your church, family, friends, business contacts, co-workers, etc.
2. You’ll receive a link to a sample fundraising letter which you can use to customize your own letter, sharing how God led you to adopt, where you are in the adoption process, who you’re hoping to adopt (including photos and info if appropriate), and asking the recipient to support you prayerfully and financially as God leads.
3. We’ll provide you with a link to a letter of support from our leadership that articulates God’s heart for the orphan, the need, and our specific support of your adoption. We’ll briefly explain our funding commitment and how that works. This letter can be sent with your customized support letter and will serve as a reinforcement of your request for prayer/financial support and may provide some validation to the process.
4. Please send thank-you notes to each of the individuals who have supported you financially. We can provide you with a list of donors so you can do this.
5. Our grant will be available to be applied to your adoption expenses once it is in your account. Payments can be made to your adoption agency, homestudy agency, etc. With proper documentation, we can also reimburse for expenses paid.
6. We encourage you to send a follow-up letter to your supporters shortly after your child joins your family, along with a family picture so each supporter can see what God did in your adoption and can continue to pray for your family.